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Hip Replacement & Knee Replacement

If you are considering a joint replacement, please learn about hip resurfacing or knee resurfacing. This is a new procedure that is just being introduced in the USA and just recently got FDA approval. Surgeons may tell you it is new. However the word “new” is a matter of semantics. Resurfacing has been successfully been used in Europe for almost 10 years. At this time many surgeons are not authorized to use this procedure simply because they have not received training for it. Consequently untrained hip resurfacing surgeons will probably encourage you to get a standard replacement and use the excuse that it is too new.

There are several resurfacing procedures. Recently I came across the “Birmingham Method.” This procedure for hips requires the top of the femur bone be resurfaced and then a cap with a large ball is placed on the top of the bone. A cup is placed inside the hip.

The advantage of this hip replacement is a very large ball and cap, which may result in less wear and tear and longer life. Another big advantage of resurfacing vs conventional is that less bone is removed resulting in a more symmetrical result. Conventional hip replacements require that about 3 to 4 inches of the femur bone be removed and can result in one leg being longer than the other. For this reason I believe that resurfacing will eventually be considered the norm.

Unfortunately not everyone is a candidate for resurfacing. One doctor told me that the bone has to be “live” to be eligible for this procedure. In some cases surgeons cannot give you a definitive answer as to whether this procedure is right for you until they operate on you and look at the bone’s health. If the bone is not healthy at the top, the surgeon will elect to give you a conventional hip replacement.

I recently came across an individual that had hip resurfacing. He was just out of the hospital one week and demonstrated that he could hop with both legs. A year later he told me was enjoying the results of the hip resurfacing and was now snow skiing! However he mentioned a female friend had the same procedure and was not successful. Her surgeon told her that the bone was not dense enough. Consequently she followed up with a successful conventional hip replacement. By the way, Floyd Landers, who bike raced in the Tour De France had hip resurfacing.

Conventional hip replacements in the USA have about a 3 percent failure rate. Before rushing to get this new procedure (hip resurfacing), please thoroughly investigate the surgeon to make sure they are proficient in this procedure. I believe that this is more important than how new the procedure is. Any surgical procedure is only as good as the doctor.

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